Cooke, Arnold William (Sergeant)

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-August-10

Sergeant Arnold William Cooke RCAF

Birth Date: 1917-May-20

Born: Montreal Quebec

Alfred & Sarah Elizabeth Cooke

Home: St Lambert, Quebec (parents)

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RCAF

Unit

31 OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF)

Base

RCAF Stn. Debert, Nova Scotia

Rank

Sergeant

Position

Sergeant

Service Numbers

R/108285

Home

St Lambert, Quebec (parents)

Final Burial

Mount Royal Cemetery
Sec G943 Grave 354

Took off from Debert NS on a routine night training flight.

Just after midnight, in dark and fog, the plane struck the south side of Dalhousie Mountain and disintegrated.

Killed: includes Cooke: Pilot Officer John Kenneth Hobson RCAF J/11647 KIA Woodlawn Cemetery Saskatoon Block 88. Lot 19. Grave 10956. Pilot Officer Paul Amos Rogers RCAF J/15115 KIA Edmonton Cemetery, Alberta Block 89. Sub. Div. L. Grave 1. Sergeant Howard James Vincent RCAF R/98849 KIA Canora Cemetery, Canora, Saskatchewan. Pilot Officer John Alan Bursall RAAF KIA Terrace Hill Cemetery Truro NS Plot 379. Grave 3.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Crew or Other Personnel

Hudson BW401

Pilot Officer J A Bursill RAAF

Pilot Officer Bursill, J A (RAAF)

Killed in Flying Accident
1942-August-10
cemetery unknown

Sergeant Arnold William Cooke RCAF

Sergeant Cooke, Arnold William (RCAF)
Wireless Air Gunner
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-August-10
Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Pilot Officer John Kenneth Hobson RCAF

Pilot Officer Hobson, John Kenneth (RCAF)
Observer
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-August-10
Woodlawn Cemetery Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Pilot Officer Paul Amos Rogers RCAF

Pilot Officer Rogers, Paul Amos (RCAF)
Observer
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-August-10
Edmonton Cemetery, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Sergeant Howard James Vincent RCAF

Sergeant Vincent, Howard James (RCAF)
Air Gunner
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-August-10
Canora Cemetery, Canora, Saskatchewan, Canada

Hudson serial: BW401

Lockheed Hudson
Source National Air Force Museum of Canada.

The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force (RAF) shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter. The Hudson served throughout the war, mainly with Coastal Command, but also in transport and training roles, as well as delivering agents into occupied France. They were also used extensively with the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) anti-submarine squadrons. National Air Force Museum of Canada.

YouTube Hudson

Wikipedia Hudson

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Hudon - Kestrel Publications

Aircraft Images

Hudson BW401

Hudson Mk. III BW401

With No. 31 Operational Training Unit at Debert, NS when taken on RCAF books. Crashed on Dalhousie Mountain, near Scotsburn, NS in the early morning on 10 August 1942. On cross country exercise, ordered to divert to Charlottetown, PEI due to deteriorating weather at Debert. Acknowledged order, struck mountain top at cruise speed en route to Charlottetown and completely disintegrated. All crew killed, including Pilot Officer J.A. Bursill (or Bursil?), RAAF; Pilot Officer A. Rogers, Sgt. A.W. Cooke; Sgt. J.K. Hobson; Sgt. H.J. Vincent. Ownership to No. 4 Repair Depot on 13 August 1942 for write off. Memorial service for victims held on 66th anniversary of crash, 10 August 2008, at crash site.

1941-12-22 Taken on Strength Eastern Air Command 2019-08-20
1942-August-10 Accident: 31 Operational Training Unit Loc: Pictou County Nova Scotia Names: Bursill | Cooke | Hobson | Rogers | Vincent
1942-11-12 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

Unit Desciption

31 OTU (31 Operational Training Unit)

The Operational Training Unit (OTU) was the last stop for aircrew trainees. They spent 8 to 14 weeks learning to fly operational aircraft (Hawker Hurricane or Fairey Swordfish, e.g.). The instructors had experience in actual operations, and often were posted to OTUs after their operational tour.